Tips for getting elite status with your cruise line

Fancy your VIP status? Do discounts, perks and free cruises sound appealing? All this and more can be yours through the cruise line’s loyalty program. If the upper echelons seem unattainable, The Points Guy can help.

Because people generally cruise less than they fly or stay in hotels, it can take longer for customers to reach the upper levels of cruise programs than it would take to become top-level elite with an airline or hotel group. However, what’s great about almost all cruise line programs is that you have lifetime status. Once you reach each level, you stay there until you move on to the next. Unlike many airline and hotel rewards schemes, cruise loyalty programs do not reset to zero each year.

With that in mind, The Points Guy has some tips that might help you get there cruise loyalty program milestones faster.

First, you’ll need to figure out how loyalty status is determined on your preferred cruise line. Some lines calculate the number of nights you sail, while others operate on a points system, with points earned based on the number of cruise nights or dollars spent.

Once you have this information, plan your strategy accordingly using our recommendations below. VIP status and all its perks could be within reach after all.

Book a more luxurious cabin

Most cruise line loyalty programs will award points or extra nights for your status when you book more expensive accommodations, such as apartments.

For example, Holland America Linehis The Mariner’s Society the program gives cruisers one point per night they sail, but rewards passengers with double points if they stay in penthouses or suites. If you book a 10-night sailing in any of these categories, you’ll receive 20 points instead of 10, which will push you up the ladder faster.

Suites cost more than standard accommodation, so you’ll need to weigh your budget and the perks you want to get to see if the added price is worth it to you. Mini-suites and junior suites don’t count; you need an actual suite reservation to get extra points.

You can’t game the system either. You will not receive additional points for a suite stay as a result of a free or discounted upgrade.

Book more nights in cheap lodges

If your preferred line uses the number of nights you sail to award your status, such as Carnival Cruise Line do with her VIFP Club — your main concern should be either booking longer cruises or taking more short cruises. If you’re on a tight budget and want to do it the cheapest way possible, book an inside cabin. That way, you spend the least possible amount on those status-earning cruises, allowing you to take more of them.

Note that this strategy will not work if the loyalty program uses a points system, as the lowest-level rooms receive the fewest points.

Take advantage of loyalty promotions

Some lines offer extra points per night if you take advantage of extended loyalty member specials. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line awards an additional point per night to passengers booking cabins through the line Latitudes Rewards Insider Deals. That means you could move up to the next level faster, even in the least expensive cabins.

Take advantage of sales

Cruise lines offer discounts for a variety of reasons, and if you maximize them, you save. This means you can sail more often to earn more points or charter more nights on board, putting yourself on the fast track to a higher level.

Many brands discount prices for residents of certain states where ships have home ports, with Florida offering the most options. If you live in states where these bargains are listed, you’ll save. If you use these promotions to sail on older ships or those with shorter itineraries, fares are often less expensive to get started.

Additional discounts include seniors and members of the military. Also, watch out for sales during annual discount periods, such as “wave season,” Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday. We also recommend signing up for price alerts through your cruise line, travel agent, or one of the many pricing apps that will alert you when fares drop.

Use a cruise line credit card

Seven of the eight most popular cruise lines offer cobranded credit cards. While you won’t directly get a higher status by booking with them, they allow you to accumulate points that you can redeem for statement credits to offset the cost of sailing. Some cards also allow you to exchange your points for cruise line gift cards, which you can use to book even more trips, helping you improve your loyalty level faster.

If all else fails, some cards entitle you to special perks and amenities — like discounts and onboard credits — that mimic those offered at the line’s higher loyalty tiers.

However, it’s important to note that point redemption values ​​aren’t as favorable with cruise cards as they are with more general travel cards. You’ll probably get a better return on your investment using something like this The Platinum® Card from American Expresswhich offers bonus points for travel booked through Amex and up to $300 in onboard credit with some cruise lines; THE Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Cardthat offer at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, including cruises (which cannot be booked through the Capital One Travel portal); or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®which offers up to $300 in annual credits on Chase Travel℠ travel purchases, including cruises.

Check reciprocity

Are you eager to test drive a new cruise line, but don’t want to sacrifice the benefits you get from a brand under the same corporate umbrella? Ask if the sister line will answer.

For example, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity cruises and Silversea Cruises — all operated by Royal Caribbean Group — offer reciprocity through them Crown & Anchor Society, The Captain’s Club and Venetian Society programs. This means that if you have a high level with one of the lines, it will be honored when you surf with the others.

For general status matches, check MSC Cruises‘ The Voyagers Clubwhich offers the most extensive matching options of any cruise line. In addition to cruise line matches, loyalty status will be matched for most hotel programs and a few airlines.

In addition, Virgin Voyages bidder status matches for his sailing club loyalty program.

Look for other ways to earn

As part of it Power points program, Celebrity Cruises allows its loyalty members to earn points outside of cruises by participating in a number of qualifying activities, including completing online surveys, participating on social media and booking special voyages. For every 10 Power Up Points you earn, you’ll receive 1 point towards your Celebrity Loyalty status, helping you level up.

Because the line awards points both for the duration of the cruise and the type of cabin booked, the thresholds for each tier are higher than they are for reward programs that have simpler “one point per night” earning schemes. Earning additional points for non-cruise activities can accelerate your rise through the loyalty ranks.

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